Sponson and rigid inflatable boat incorporating the same

Abstract

An improved sponson and rigid inflatable boats incorporating the same. The sponson includes a non-inflatable buoyant component, such as closed-cell polyethylene, and an inflatable buoyant component, such as one or more inflatable tubes. The boat includes a rigid hull having sidewalls along which one or more of the improved sponsons extend. In some embodiments, the inflatable component is removably secured to the non-inflatable component by a restraining structure. In some embodiments, the restraining structure includes straps. In some embodiments, the restraining structure includes resilient arms that bias the inflatable component within a pocket formed in the non-inflatable component.

We claim:  
     
       1. A rigid inflatable boat, comprising: 
       a rigid boat hull having a sidewall with an outer surface; and  
       at least one sponson mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall of the hull, wherein the at least one sponson comprises:  
       a non-inflatable buoyant component;  
       an inflatable buoyant component removably secured to the non-inflatable buoyant component, wherein the inflatable buoyant component is adapted to receive and selectively store a volume of gas in an internal chamber, wherein the inflatable buoyant component is selectively inflatable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, and further wherein the inflatable buoyant component includes a valve through which gas may be selectively inserted into and removed from the chamber;  
       restraining structure removably coupling the inflatable buoyant component to the non-inflatable buoyant component; and  
       a sheath adapted to removably secure the non-inflatable buoyant component and the inflatable buoyant component to the hull of a boat.  
     
     
       2. The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath and the sidewall collectively define a closed perimeter into which the non-inflatable buoyant component and the inflatable buoyant component are received. 
     
     
       3. The boat of  claim 2 , wherein in the deflated configuration the inflatable buoyant component and the non-inflatable buoyant component are adapted to be removed as a unit from the closed perimeter. 
     
     
       4. The boat of  claim 2 , wherein in the inflated configuration the inflatable buoyant component and the non-inflatable buoyant component respectively are biased against the sidewall and the sheath to prevent removal of the non-inflatable buoyant component and the inflatable buoyant component as a unit from the closed perimeter. 
     
     
       5. The boat of  claim 1 , wherein in the inflated configuration the inflatable buoyant component has a cross-sectional dimension that is larger than the cross-sectional dimension of the inflatable buoyant component in the deflated configuration. 
     
     
       6. The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable buoyant component is adapted to bias the non-inflatable buoyant component away from the hull and against the sheath as the inflatable buoyant component is inflated. 
     
     
       7. The boat of  claim 6 , wherein the non-inflatable buoyant component is maintained in a spaced-apart configuration from the hull by the inflatable buoyant component when the inflatable buoyant component is in the inflated configuration. 
     
     
       8. The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the non-inflatable buoyant component includes a mount adapted to receive the inflatable buoyant component. 
     
     
       9. The boat of  claim 8 , wherein the restraining structure is adapted to bias the inflatable buoyant component against the mount. 
     
     
       10. The boat of  claim 9 , wherein the restraining structure includes arms that bias the inflatable buoyant component against the mount. 
     
     
       11. The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the non-inflatable buoyant component includes a pocket with an opening, and further wherein at least a portion of the inflatable buoyant component extends into the pocket. 
     
     
       12. The boat of  claim 11 , wherein the inflatable buoyant component is completely received within the pocket when the inflatable buoyant component is in the deflated configuration. 
     
     
       13. The boat of  claim 12 , wherein in the deflated configuration the inflatable buoyant component is received within the pocket and does not extend through the opening, and further wherein in the inflated configuration at least a portion of the inflatable buoyant component extends through the opening and out of the pocket. 
     
     
       14. The boat of  claim 13 , wherein in the inflated configuration, the inflatable buoyant component extends through the opening and against the hull and biases the non-inflatable buoyant component away from the hull. 
     
     
       15. The boat of  claim 11 , wherein the restraining structure is adapted to bias the inflatable buoyant component into the pocket. 
     
     
       16. The boat of  claim 15 , wherein the restraining structure includes one or more straps that extend across the pocket. 
     
     
       17. The boat of  claim 16 , wherein the straps are formed of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       18. The boat of  claim 16 , wherein the straps include a protective cover. 
     
     
       19. The boat of  claim 15 , wherein the restraining structure includes arms that extend across at least a portion of the opening of the pocket. 
     
     
       20. The boat of  claim 19 , wherein the arms are formed of a resilient material. 
     
     
       21. The boat of  claim 19 , wherein when the inflatable buoyant component is in the inflated configuration, at least a portion of the inflatable buoyant component extends through the opening of the pocket and deflects the arms away from the pocket to a biased configuration, and further wherein the arms are biased to return toward the pocket upon deflation of the inflatable buoyant component. 
     
     
       22. The boat of  claim 19 , wherein the arms are integrally formed with the non-inflatable buoyant component. 
     
     
       23. A rigid inflatable boat, comprising: 
       a rigid boat hull having a sidewall with an outer surface; and  
       at least one sponson mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall of the hull, wherein the at least one sponson comprises:  
       a non-inflatable buoyant component having a surface and a pocket that extends into the non-inflatable buoyant component from an opening on the surface;  
       an inflatable buoyant component removably secured to the non-inflatable buoyant component and extending at least partially into the pocket, wherein the inflatable buoyant component is adapted to receive and selectively store a volume of gas in an internal chamber, wherein the inflatable buoyant component is selectively inflatable between a deflated configuration, in which the inflatable buoyant component is received within the pocket and does not extend through the opening, and an inflated configuration, in which at least a portion of the inflatable buoyant component extends through the opening toward the sidewall of the hull;  
       restraining structure removably coupling the inflatable buoyant component to the non-inflatable buoyant component, wherein the restraining structure is adapted to bias the inflatable buoyant component into the pocket; and  
       a sheath that extends around at least a portion of the non-inflatable buoyant component and couples the sponson to the hull.  
     
     
       24. The boat of  claim 23 , wherein in the inflated configuration, the inflatable buoyant component extends against the hull and urges the non-inflatable buoyant component against the sheath. 
     
     
       25. The boat of  claim 23 , wherein the restraining structure includes one or more straps that extend across the pocket. 
     
     
       26. The boat of  claim 25 , wherein the straps are formed of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       27. The boat of  claim 25 , wherein the straps include a protective cover. 
     
     
       28. The boat of  claim 23 , wherein the restraining structure includes arms that extend across at least a portion of the opening of the pocket. 
     
     
       29. The boat of  claim 28 , wherein the arms are formed of a resilient material. 
     
     
       30. The boat of  claim 29 , wherein when the inflatable buoyant component is in the inflated configuration, at least a portion of the inflatable buoyant component extends through the opening of the pocket and deflects the arms away from the pocket to a biased configuration, and further wherein the arms are biased to return toward the pocket upon deflation of the inflatable buoyant component. 
     
     
       31. The boat of  claim 28 , wherein the arms are integrally formed with the non-inflatable buoyant component. 
     
     
       32. A rigid inflatable boat, comprising: 
       a rigid boat hull having a sidewall with an outer surface; and  
       at least one sponson mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall of the hull, wherein the at least one sponson comprises:  
       a non-inflatable buoyant component having a surface and a pocket that extends into the non-inflatable buoyant component from an opening on the surface;  
       an inflatable buoyant component removably secured to the non-inflatable buoyant component and extending at least partially into the pocket, wherein the inflatable buoyant component is adapted to receive and selectively store a volume of gas in an internal chamber, wherein the inflatable buoyant component is selectively inflatable between a deflated configuration, in which the inflatable buoyant component is received within the pocket and does not extend through the opening, and an inflated configuration, in which at least a portion of the inflatable buoyant component extends through the opening toward the sidewall of the hull; and  
       means for removably coupling the inflatable buoyant component to the non-inflatable buoyant component.